Cowboys break off contract talks with Anthony Spencer

Posted by Mike Florio on June 25, 2013, 3:32 PM EDT

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The Cowboys want to sign defensive end Anthony Spencer to a long-term deal. But the Cowboys have given up. For now.

Agent Jordan Woy (Colorado Avalanche coach Patrick Roy never knows how to pronounce his name) tells Mike Fisher of 105.3 The Fan in Dallas that the Cowboys have broken off talks. Per Woy, the move makes it “most likely that [Spencer will] play 2013 on the one-year deal.’’

Spencer signed a one-year, $10.6 million franchise tender earlier this year. The guaranteed, eight-figure payday for 2013 has complicated efforts to sign him for the long haul, given the dip in the veteran pass-rusher market.

Under the labor deal, if the Cowboys and Spencer fail to work out a long-term deal by July 15, they can’t agree to a new contract until after the 2013 regular season.

Even then, the Cowboys won’t have much leverage. If they use the franchise tender for a third straight year on Spencer, it’ll cost the greater of the quarterback number in 2014 or $15.264 million, a 44-percent raise over his 2013 compensation. So Spencer will hit the open market unless the Cowboys can get him to forget about the one-year franchise salary in 2014 and take a deal that reflects his market value.

if he ever wants to win anything, breaking off contract talks with them is the best thing for him. a clueless wannabe owner who cant over the fact that he doesnt know how to build a champion (the 90s teams were built by jimmy johnson) a ginger coach that has not done anything to deserve any sort of clout or validate himself as legitimate, and a qb, as if anyone needs an explanation, who is laughable in a big game and always makes excuses and blames other people or things instead of doing what he should do and admit he is terrible. yeah i d want to stay there too

Anthony Spencer will be 30 when the season officially ends. And with the top pass rusher signed this offseason getting around 5 million this year, he will be happy to take closer to 6 million a year next year for about 4 years.

jbl429 says:Jun 25, 2013 3:56 PM

thetroofishere says:
Jun 25, 2013 3:44 PM
Anthony Spencer will be 30 when the season officially ends. And with the top pass rusher signed this offseason getting around 5 million this year, he will be happy to take closer to 6 million a year next year for about 4 years.

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Which is exactly why he’ll be happy to take $10.6 this year, and assuming he doesn’t get hurt, he can take market value next year and end up getting 2 years of market salary for one year of service in 2013.

11 sacks is nothing to scoff at but I don’t think he can repeat that production. He’ll probably get a big pay day next year and then find himself on the wrong side of a cap room struggle at his new team.

If I was a 30 year old football player with a $10.6 mil. guarantee for this season, I wouldn’t be in any hurry to sign another contract either. While he may have 3 or 4 more years of playing time left, he is not going to see another contract as rich as the one he has now. And he would be stupid to sign one of those back-loaded contracts of which he would never see that money. Who among us average guys wouldn’t want to retire at age 31 with $10 mil. in the bank?

larrydavid7000 says:Jun 25, 2013 5:55 PM

They could not find anyone else to take a pay cut. That’s the Jerry way.

This dude hasn’t done anything in the years he’s been with the Cowboys. Not worth it. I’d be happy to be proven wrong this season but that defense is gonna be mediocre again.

maurysline says:Jun 25, 2013 6:46 PM

Spencer will never have the same success on another team without Ware on the other side.
Who do opponents double team and chip leaving Spencer alone one on one?
Go to another team and become that focus and his production will disappear.

I’d rather see them give Sean Lee the extension. Not sure what pintadera2000 is smoking, Spencer is a great player but Dallas would be doing themselves an even better favor by signing Lee to an extension rather than Spencer.

skolvikesskol says:Jun 25, 2013 11:23 PM

Florio- nice Roy breference, maybe even classic. Brw i have a rookie Roy in excellent condition. All hail Patrick Roy!